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How to Feel Better During Your Period

Let's face it: When it comes to puberty and your monthly
period, there are lots of things you can’t predict and don't have power over. For
example, you don’t know when you will get your period for the first time or what
day of the week it will arrive.

But here's some good news! There are actually a lot of things
you can control. You can affect how you feel during your period. You can stay energized
and feel great all week long instead of feeling tired or worn out. Here are some
tips to help you feel better during your period:

1. Exercise with Lighter Activities
Easy exercises like stretching, yoga, walking or swimming help increase blood flow,
which cuts down on cramping. Sitting still can make you feel worse, so it is important
to exercise. A spontaneous dance party with your girlfriends (or alone in your room)
is a great way to lift your spirits and keep you moving, too.

2. Hug a Heating Pad
The cozy warm feeling of a heating pad on your tummy is oh-so-soothing when cramps
have you feeling not-so-great. It can soothe your muscles, easing your body’s discomfort
and minimizing cramps.

3. Drink Water and Stay Hydrated
It might seem odd that you need to drink more water when you're feeling the most
bloated, puffy and full, but the more water you drink, the more easily you will
eliminate the water building up in your body. Drink eight to 10 8-ounce glasses
of fluid like water, juice or milk throughout the day (not all at once). If you’re
on-the-go, be sure to carry a water bottle with you. This will help you stay hydrated
throughout your busy day.

4. Eat Good-For-You Foods
Try eating more fresh fruit and green veggies. You should work towards getting at
least five portions a day of fruits and vegetables. When you eat enough of the right
foods it can make all the difference. It can also steer you away from the foods
that can make your period symptoms worse: junk food, chocolate and salty foods.
Better bets for snack cravings? Try snacking on carrots with hummus, apples with
peanut butter, or blend up a smoothie. Plus, fruits and veggies contain lots of
water, so you're filling up on the good stuff and staying hydrated at the same time.

5. Avoid Caffeine
Caffeine also makes you retain water and can give you that achy, crampy, bloated
feeling, so it's best to cut it out of your diet altogether. Did you know that caffeine
isn't just in coffee and tea? It's also in sodas and chocolate. Good substitutes
are ginger ale (same bubbles and sweet taste with tummy-settling ginger), herbal
tea and herbal iced tea, or just plain water. If you're craving chocolate, grab
a small piece of dark chocolate instead of a big candy bar.

6. Catch Your Zs
Teens need eight to nine hours of sleep per night, especially when you have your
period. Getting enough sleep will help you wake up feeling refreshed and rejuvenated.

7. Take Notes
Being prepared is your best defense when it comes to your period. Record your period
each month on a calendar to chart when it starts, how long it lasts, how heavy it
is on each day, and what side effects you have before, during, and after. You can
use a secret notation that no one but you understands, such as a red dot for each
tampon you use, a red line for each pad and a dotted line for a pantiliner. Have
fun with it and know your secret will be safe! After a few months you're likely
to see a pattern and you’ll be prepared.

8. Use Period Protection that Lets You Stay Active
Finding the right pantiliners, pads and tampons that provide great protection while
meeting your personal needs are important to feeling your best. Daily liners keep
you feeling fresh and prepared before your period, and pads are great protection
during your period that are now incredibly thin to move with your body. If you’re
very active, consider tampons which are worn internally. Choose the lowest absorbency
necessary for your flow and be sure to change it every 4-8 hours. Many women use
a combination of products as a “system” so find out what works best for you.

So with these tips, your monthly period doesn’t have to prevent
you from activities you’re used to. You can continue being the fun, happy and energized
teen you have always been.

Read about exercise period and learn helpful tips for dealing with puberty from BeingGirl.

This tips are so great!!!!!! I am 13 and I will be going to high school next year but I haven't stated my period yet but when I do ill definitely use this tips!!!!

thewriterajp

Posted March 18, 2013

I love these tips! I think I may need to start recording my cycles better though. Thanks for all the tips! I love drinking herbal tea when on my period!

isabellarina

Posted April 07, 2012

hii i got my period yesterday and im so shy to tell my mom. worst part was i had soccer yesterday and i was like shy to go because im not sure if i start bleeding there

Pikachu12

Posted June 10, 2012

exercise doesn't really help too much. it is very uncomfortable, but it does help relieve the cramps just a little bit.

Buggy12

Posted April 11, 2012

Isabellarina, its okay. I just started my period too. But I was at chruch. I told my Mom "Mom, I need to tell you something important." So we walked to the bathroom, and I wispered it to her and she gave me a pad. It's not like shes going to be mad, she went through it too. So its fine, just tell her so you can relax! :)

soccergal20

Posted January 13, 2012

this is soo helpful!

Olive :))

Posted July 13, 2011

Very helpful! I use the heating pad and it makes my stomach feel soooooo great! :)

Dolphin0Girl

Posted May 26, 2011

All those tips are so true!!! I feel horrible when I get my period, and all those things help!

20DawgFan07

Posted December 31, 2011

It's really hard for me to go to yoga when I'm on my period... I always feel bloated, and it makes it hard to stretch.